Germany, The Next Republic? eBook

Germany, therefore, was the first to challenge American
neutrality. Germany was the first to threaten
American lives. Germany, which was the first
to show contempt for Wilson, forced the President,
as well as the people, to alter policies and adapt
American neutrality to a new and grave danger.

CHAPTER II

“Piratessinkanotherneutralship”

On February 4th, 1915, the Reichsanzeiger,
the official newspaper of Germany, published an announcement
declaring that from the 18th of February “all
the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland as
well as the entire English channel are hereby declared
to be a war area. All ships of the enemy mercantile
marine found in these waters will be destroyed and
it will not always be possible to avoid danger to the
crews and passengers thereon.

“Neutral shipping is also in danger in the
war area, as owing to the secret order issued
by the British Admiralty January 31st, 1915, regarding
the misuse of neutral flags, and the chances of naval
warfare, it can happen that attacks directed against
enemy ships may damage neutral vessels.

“The shipping route around the north of The
Shetlands in the east of the North Sea and over a
distance of thirty miles along the coast of The Netherlands
will not be dangerous.”

Although the announcement was signed by Admiral von
Pohl, Chief of the Admiralty Staff, the real author
of the blockade was Grand Admiral von Tirpitz.
In explanation of the announcement the Teutonic-Allied,
neutral and hostile powers were sent a memorandum which
contained the following paragraph:

“The German Government announces its intention
in good time so that hostile as well as neutral
ships can take necessary precautions accordingly.
Germany expects that the neutral powers will show
the same consideration for Germany’s vital interests
as for those of England, and will aid in keeping their
citizens and property from this area. This is
the more to be expected, as it must be to the interests
of the neutral powers to see this destructive war end
as soon as possible.”

On February 12th the American Ambassador, James W.
Gerard, handed Secretary of State von Jagow a note
in which the United States said:

“This Government views these possibilities with
such grave concern that it feels it to be its privilege,
and indeed its duty in the circumstances, to request
the Imperial German Government to consider before
action is taken the critical situation in respect of
the relations between this country and Germany which
might arise were the German naval officers, in carrying
out the policy foreshadowed in the Admiralty’s
proclamation, to destroy any merchant vessel of the
United States or cause the death of American citizens.